Playback problems, (quality) when burning to dual layer DVD

sidbueddro · Post by **sidbueddro** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 12:51 pm

Playback of project burned to dual layer DVD is choppy or music and titles don't sync correctly. Project settings to capture are DV from a DV Camcorder. When burning DVD, MPEG settings are: Custom, with Video Data rate of 8000, Audio formate is MPEG Stereo, with audio date rate of 384. What would be the correct settings for burning the DVD to get maximum quality results without the problems I am experiencing? Thanks.

skier-hughes · Post by **skier-hughes** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 1:19 pm

If you record just some of this project to a SL DVD do you get the same problems?
Are the problems noticable on the mpeg file played on the pc, not from the dvd?
DOes the dvd jump in both the pc and a dvd player?
Are the settings constant throughout the whole project?

I'd not go above 8,000 in total, so drop the video to 7,500.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 9:57 pm

The audio data rate is probably unnecessarily high, but that should not cause the sort of problem you are experiencing.

It is not clear to me whether you first produce your DVD-compatible mpeg-2 BEFORE you even open the burning module. In other words, you start off capturing in DV format, do your editing in DV, then go to Share > Create Video File > DVD and use your custom settings to produce a DVD-compatible mpeg-2. Then you close your project and, with an empty timeline, go to Share > Create Disc > DVD, insert your new mpeg-2, create your menu and burn.

Long experience on this Board shows that you can experience a variety of problems if you jump this intermediate step.

sidbueddro · Post by **sidbueddro** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 10:15 pm

Ken,

I do start off capturing in DV format, do my editing in DV, and then save as a VSP file. Then I go to Share > Create Disk and use custom settings to produce a DVD-compatible mpeg-2. Are you saying that I should create an MPEG file first, before burning? Thanks.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Wed Dec 13, 2006 10:37 pm

That's precisely what I am saying. A VSP file is merely a Video Studio Project file. It is not a video format. It merely tells VS what files were included in a project, where they are located, what editing has been done to them, what audio has been added etc.

While in theory they can then be used to burn the project directly to disc, as I said, long experience on this Board suggests that it is more often than not a recipe for at least complications and more likely, disaster!

As I said, after finishing your editing, first go to Share > Create Video File > DVD. Note: select "DVD" and not "mpeg-2" as the latter uses a set of properties which are not necessarily DVD-compliant. Selecting 'DVD' ensures that you will be using a template that is DVD-compliant.

Then after producing this file, follow my directions above in my earlier post. One other thing, in the burning module, make sure, once you have inserted the new mpeg-2 file(s), make sure 'Do not convert compliant mpeg files' is checked in the second of the three small icons that appear in the bottom left of the burning screen. This ensures that no further rendering of your new file occurs during the burning process.

sidbueddro · Post by **sidbueddro** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:19 am

Ken,

I will give this a try. I had been burning directly from a VSP file to Create Disc per instructions from Ulead's Tech Support several years ago. They advised me to do it this way as I was experiencing problems with creating an MPG file first, and then burning, similiar to what the problems I am currently experiencing. However that was with an earlier version of VS, I think VS 7 or 8. Will give your advice a try and see what happens. Thanks!!!

sidbueddro · Post by **sidbueddro** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:32 am

Ken,

One more question. When creating the video file, can I still use "Custom" as an option, or is it a safer bet to user the standard DVD template. Would like to be able to set the Video Bit Rate to 8000, and use MPEG audio vs LCPM. Please advise. Thanks.

Post by **Ken Berry** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:59 am

You don't say which version of VS you are using. But whatever the case, I think you will find that you have no alternative but to use Custom as there is no set template which uses mpeg audio unless you make one! When you do, give some consideration to what I said about the audio data rate. The one you have chosen is the highest, of course, but I think you will find that 224 kbps or 256 will suffice.

I also don't know where in the world you are. But you should be aware that mpeg audio is not part of the NTSC DVD standard. However, just about all modern players will play it. It is, paradoxically, part of the PAL standard.

heinz-oz · Post by **heinz-oz** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 1:49 am

Ken Berry wrote:You don't say which version of VS you are using. But whatever the case, I think you will find that you have no alternative but to use Custom as there is no set template which uses mpeg audio unless you make one! When you do, give some consideration to what I said about the audio data rate. The one you have chosen is the highest, of course, but I think you will find that 224 kbps or 256 will suffice.

I also don't know where in the world you are. But you should be aware that mpeg audio is not part of the NTSC DVD standard. However, just about all modern players will play it. It is, paradoxically, part of the PAL standard.

I always use 192 kbps for my audio and hear no difference to the original CD music I use as background.

Ken, I don't know of many aspects of any of the DVD standards which are not "paradoxical"

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 4:36 am

sidbueddro wrote:Ken,

One more question. When creating the video file, can I still use "Custom" as an option, or is it a safer bet to user the standard DVD template. Would like to be able to set the Video Bit Rate to 8000, and use MPEG audio vs LCPM. Please advise. Thanks.

Which version of VideoStudio are you currently running -- and does it have an AC3 Audio option

Also, what's the total duration of your video -- maybe you can cut it down to fit a a single layer dvd?

You mentioned an out-of-sync issue. Are you using one long DV .avi video, or several shorter files? Sometimes it's possible to keep things in sync by breaking up a 60-minute dv .avi into 2 30-minutes (or 3 20-minutes) videos. Or just "cut" them on your timeline, and then output one long mpeg video of the combined smaller videos.

Is the choppy and out-of-sync start right away, or does it get worse the further into the video?

Regards,
George

sidbueddro · Post by **sidbueddro** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:08 pm

GeorgeW wrote:
sidbueddro wrote:Ken,

One more question. When creating the video file, can I still use "Custom" as an option, or is it a safer bet to user the standard DVD template. Would like to be able to set the Video Bit Rate to 8000, and use MPEG audio vs LCPM. Please advise. Thanks.
Which version of VideoStudio are you currently running -- and does it have an AC3 Audio option

Also, what's the total duration of your video -- maybe you can cut it down to fit a a single layer dvd?

You mentioned an out-of-sync issue. Are you using one long DV .avi video, or several shorter files? Sometimes it's possible to keep things in sync by breaking up a 60-minute dv .avi into 2 30-minutes (or 3 20-minutes) videos. Or just "cut" them on your timeline, and then output one long mpeg video of the combined smaller videos.

Is the choppy and out-of-sync start right away, or does it get worse the further into the video?

Regards,
George

George,

Am using VS 10+, and not sure if I have AC3 as an option. (Not sure what that is). As far as length, am using two 60 minute video projects, combined together, cut/pasted together on the timeline. The choppy/out of sync varies with each project I've burned to disc, sometimes at the beginning, in the middle, or at the very end. Thanks.

Bob

maddrummer3301 · Post by **maddrummer3301** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 12:31 pm

GeorgeW · Post by **GeorgeW** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 2:35 pm

sidbueddro wrote: Am using VS 10+, and not sure if I have AC3 as an option. (Not sure what that is). As far as length, am using two 60 minute video projects, combined together, cut/pasted together on the timeline. The choppy/out of sync varies with each project I've burned to disc, sometimes at the beginning, in the middle, or at the very end. Thanks.

Bob

AC3 is an Audio format option (where you see MPEG and LPCM -- it is called Dolby Digital Audio in VS10+). It is more compatible (globally) than mpeg audio, and the audio space requirements are just as small as mpeg audio (given the same bitrate, and assuming only 2-channel stereo).

Since you do have two long dv .avi's (assuming they are dv .avi's on the timeline), try splitting each one every ~20 minutes (at a logical point), before creating your long mpeg file. Sometimes that helps with the out-of-sync issue.

I agree with others that the bitrate is quite high (which might be your "choppy" issue. Since your source is dv .avi, you could probably drop to ~7000kbps and not notice much of a change (depends on your video content -- talking heads vs. fast action).

Unfortunately, 2-hours would require a bitrate of ~4850kbps (and audio at 192kbps). That might be too low depending on your requirements, but it would at least let you fit it all on one single layer disc. Might be worth experimenting with a smaller 30-minute clip burned to a rewriteable disc to see if the quality would be good enough...

Regards,
George

sidbueddro · Post by **sidbueddro** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 6:19 pm

Ken Berry wrote:That's precisely what I am saying. A VSP file is merely a Video Studio Project file. It is not a video format. It merely tells VS what files were included in a project, where they are located, what editing has been done to them, what audio has been added etc.

While in theory they can then be used to burn the project directly to disc, as I said, long experience on this Board suggests that it is more often than not a recipe for at least complications and more likely, disaster!

As I said, after finishing your editing, first go to Share > Create Video File > DVD. Note: select "DVD" and not "mpeg-2" as the latter uses a set of properties which are not necessarily DVD-compliant. Selecting 'DVD' ensures that you will be using a template that is DVD-compliant.

Then after producing this file, follow my directions above in my earlier post. One other thing, in the burning module, make sure, once you have inserted the new mpeg-2 file(s), make sure 'Do not convert compliant mpeg files' is checked in the second of the three small icons that appear in the bottom left of the burning screen. This ensures that no further rendering of your new file occurs during the burning process.

Ken,

Just to let you know that I followed your advice/directions and all is fine. Was able to burn 120 min to a dual layer with no problem. THANKS!!!

Black Lab · Post by **Black Lab** » Thu Dec 14, 2006 9:10 pm

Why can't Ulead just make the Recommended Procedure the REQUIRED PROCEDURE. It would make life so much easier.